Sheet finishing device

Abstract

A sheet finishing device winds a paper tape at a stapling position on a sheet bundle and thus binds the sheet bundle. The sheet finishing device cuts a used sheet that is un-reusable for image formation to produce a paper tape for binding the sheet bundle.

1 . A sheet finishing device comprising:
 a processing tray on which supports sheets having an image formed thereon by an image forming unit;   a binding unit which binds a plurality of the sheets on the processing tray by using a paper tape; and   a stacker which stacks a sheet bundle bound by the binding unit.   
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sheet supply portion which supplies a used sheet to the image forming unit. 
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a tape forming unit which forms the paper tape. 
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 2 , further comprising a tape forming unit which forms the paper tape, and a determining unit which determines whether the used sheet in the sheet supply portion is reusable in the image forming unit, wherein in case that the used sheet is reusable, the sheet supply portion supplies the used sheet to the image forming unit, whereas in case that the used sheet is not reusable, the sheet supply portion supplies the used sheet to the tape forming unit. 
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the tape forming unit cuts the used sheet which is not reusable into slits to produce the paper tape and supplies the produced paper tape to the binding unit. 
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the tape forming unit holds the used sheet which is not reusable, in a horizontal state with a supporting unit, produces the paper tape, and then inclines the supporting unit to accumulate the produced paper tape. 
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 5 , further comprising a tape supply portion which supplies the paper tape to the binding unit after paste glue on the paper tape. 
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a punching unit which opens a hole at a binding position in the sheets discharged from the image forming unit, wherein after the hole is opened in the sheets, the sheets are placed on the processing tray. 
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 8 , wherein the binding unit passes the paper tape through the hole in the sheets and then winds the paper tape between the hole and an end part of the sheets. 
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the determining unit determines whether the used sheet is reusable by scans a scratch on the sheet. 
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the sheet is a sheet on which number of used times is recorded in advance, and the determining unit determines whether the used sheet is reusable by scans the number of used times. 
   
   
       12 . A sheet finishing method comprising:
 placing sheets having an image formed thereon on a processing tray;   binding plural sheets on the processing tray by using a paper tape;   discharging a sheet bundle bound by using a paper tape; and   stacking the sheet bundle bound by using a paper tape.   
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein a used sheet is cut to form the paper tape. 
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the used sheet is a used sheet that is not reusable in an image forming unit. 
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein in the binding, the paper tape is wound between a hole formed in advance in the plural sheets and an end part of the plural sheets. 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein determining whether the used sheet is reusable or un-reusable by scanning a scratch on the used sheet. 
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the sheet is a sheet on which number of used times is recorded in advance, and determining whether the used sheet is reusable or un-reusable by scanning the number of used times.